FirstEnergy still considering fate of Burger plant

FirstEnergy has been given three more months to decide whether to close a Belmont County plant and eliminate as many as 105 jobs, or pay $330 million to install pollution controls.

FirstEnergy has been given three more months to decide whether to close a Belmont County plant and eliminate as many as 105 jobs, or pay $330 million to install pollution controls.

U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. issued the order granting more time yesterday after meeting with attorneys for the government and the Akron-based power company.

The company had been given until Dec. 31 to decide what to do with the R.E. Burger plant.

FirstEnergy can close the plant, or clean it to comply with a 2005 settlement with the federal government and Northeast states over Clean Air Act violations.

The company has the money, a spokeswoman said. But in a meeting in December, FirstEnergy's board of directors balked at approving funds to install the scrubbers and asked for more time to decide, citing the slowing economy.